Rats: La Porte High School Battling Rodent Problem

LA PORTE, TX -- The pitter patter of little feet is usually cause for joy, but when those little feet are attached to roaches and rodents, it can be hardly worth celebrating.

Unfortunately it’s become something of the norm at La Porte High School, where students have reported the furry critters falling from the ceilings in classrooms, or scurry up the walls in some areas of the school.

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Earlier this month, La Porte High School Principal Todd Schoppe sent a letter home to parents addressing the rodent and roach infestation, which he said is a result of new $100 million construction project at the school.

“As a result of this construction, we are dealing with a few related issues. The natural habitat has been disrupted, and construction features such as temporary walls are in place in some areas of the school, which has caused the need for us to increase our pest control efforts,” Schoppe said in his letter. “ Our maintenance department is aggressively working on this, and traps are set in inconspicuous places throughout the building.”

Schoppe added that rodent traps are checked each morning for any pests, and attended throughout the day as needed.

In the same letter, one of the teachers indicated her classroom was infested with some type of insect, which administrators said was sent to Texas A&M Extension Service for testing, to determine if this was associated with the rodent infestation.

At least one student said she went to the emergency room after being bitten “by something,” and she said she wasn’t the only one.

"One of my classmates, she has bites all on her legs and her chest and arms," La Porte High School student Alyssa Atilano told KPRC.

Meanwhile, as a precaution, all upholstered furniture has been removed from that section of the school.

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